ZED mini: Difference between revisions
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Stereolabs, the well-known camera company, has announced the pre-order of its latest creation ZED Mini. Stereolabs have taken one of their most prized creations – the ZED Camera – and built a compact version to mount it on virtual reality headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. The smaller version, called ZED Mini, provides real-time depth and motion sensing, environment mapping, and pass-through videos. | {{Device Infobox | ||
|image=[[File:ZED Mini Camera.jpg|400px]] | |||
|VR/AR=VR | |||
|Type=Camera | |||
|Subtype=Mini Clip-on Camera | |||
|Creator=Stereolabs | |||
|Requires=VR Headset | |||
|Field of View=110 Degrees | |||
|Tracking=Real-time Motion Tracking | |||
|Positional Tracking=Yes | |||
|Sensors=Two 720p RGB Sensors | |||
|Connectivity=USB Type-C | |||
|Release Date=November 2017 | |||
|Price=$449 | |||
|Website=https://zedstore.stereolabs.com/products/zed-mini | |||
}} | |||
[[Stereolabs]], the well-known camera company, has announced the pre-order of its latest creation ZED Mini. Stereolabs have taken one of their most prized creations – the ZED Camera – and built a compact version to mount it on virtual reality headsets like the [[HTC Vive]] and [[Oculus Rift]]. The smaller version, called ZED Mini, provides real-time depth and motion sensing, environment mapping, and pass-through videos. | |||
The ZED Mini, which is half the size of its parent camera, will convert the VR HMDs into kits that can function as high-end augmented reality headsets of the future. The ZED Mini, depth and motion sensing camera, is scheduled for a November release. | The ZED Mini, which is half the size of its parent camera, will convert the VR HMDs into kits that can function as high-end augmented reality headsets of the future. The ZED Mini, depth and motion sensing camera, is scheduled for a November release. | ||
==Turning Virtual Reality Headset into an Augmented Reality Headset== | ==Turning Virtual Reality Headset into an Augmented Reality Headset== | ||
Stereolabs has created a smaller version of its famous ZED Camera so that it can be easily fastened on a virtual reality headset. Mounting this small device on a virtual reality headset instantly gives it augmented reality capabilities. At present, AR headsets don’t come cheap. Even low-end AR gadgets cost hundreds of dollars, and some cost even more. The ZED Mini Camera could actually save thousands of dollars. | Stereolabs has created a smaller version of its famous [[ZED Stereo Camera]] so that it can be easily fastened on a virtual reality headset. Mounting this small device on a virtual reality headset instantly gives it augmented reality capabilities. At present, AR headsets don’t come cheap. Even low-end AR gadgets cost hundreds of dollars, and some cost even more. The ZED Mini Camera could actually save thousands of dollars. | ||
The ZED Mini is a lot like the ZED Camera. The two cameras mimic the function of the human eyes. The cameras are spaced accordingly. The camera comes with 110-degree FOV and two 720p RGB sensors. No external sensors or cameras are used in ZED Mine, as the gadget uses a special depth-sensing technology developed by Stereolabs. Explaining the depth-sensing process, Stereolabs’ co-founder and CEO, Cecile Schmollgruber, said that the technology uses the point of view of the right and left cameras and measures the distance of the objects in the surrounding environment. The ZED Mini is attached to the HMD using a compatible mount and is connected to the headset using a USB Type-C cable. | The ZED Mini is a lot like the ZED Camera. The two cameras mimic the function of the human eyes. The cameras are spaced accordingly. The camera comes with 110-degree [[FOV]] and two 720p RGB sensors. No external sensors or cameras are used in ZED Mine, as the gadget uses a special depth-sensing technology developed by Stereolabs. Explaining the depth-sensing process, Stereolabs’ co-founder and CEO, Cecile Schmollgruber, said that the technology uses the point of view of the right and left cameras and measures the distance of the objects in the surrounding environment. The ZED Mini is attached to the HMD using a compatible mount and is connected to the headset using a USB Type-C cable. | ||
==How is the ZED Mini Camera different from AR headsets?== | ==How is the ZED Mini Camera different from AR headsets?== | ||
The ZED Mini Camera does pass-through stereo video whereas the augmented reality headsets like the HoloLens use Magic Leap technology or display images on translucent screens. | The ZED Mini Camera does pass-through stereo video whereas the augmented reality headsets like the [[HoloLens]] use [[Magic Leap]] technology or display images on translucent screens. | ||
Wearing the ZED Mini Camera, the world will look more realistic as the pixels are imposed on the real world images. This pass-through experience is quite different from the semi-transparent look that ‘transparent’ AR technology generates. | Wearing the ZED Mini Camera, the world will look more realistic as the pixels are imposed on the real world images. This pass-through experience is quite different from the semi-transparent look that ‘transparent’ AR technology generates. | ||
==A Glimpse into the Future== | ==A Glimpse into the Future== | ||
Two of the biggest tech giants, Google and Apple, are attempting to bring augmented reality tracking capabilities to phones by launching software Development Kits like ARCore and ARKit. Although a very big step in the right direction, consumer-version of high-end AR headsets are still a few years away. Augmented reality headsets that are currently available, like the ODG R8 and HoloLens, lack the necessary features. At present, most AR headsets come with 40-degree FOV, which is far lower than the 100-degree FOV that’s commonly found in VR headsets. | Two of the biggest tech giants, [[Google]] and [[Apple]], are attempting to bring augmented reality tracking capabilities to phones by launching software Development Kits like [[ARCore]] and [[ARKit]]. Although a very big step in the right direction, consumer-version of high-end AR headsets are still a few years away. Augmented reality headsets that are currently available, like the [[ODG R8]] and HoloLens, lack the necessary features. At present, most AR headsets come with 40-degree FOV, which is far lower than the 100-degree FOV that’s commonly found in VR headsets. | ||
The ZED Mini mounted on a VR headset gives a glimpse into the future. The ZED Mini plus VR headset combination emulates the kind of immersive experience and functions (environment mapping, real-time tracking, and wide FOV) we expect from AR headsets in the future. | The ZED Mini mounted on a VR headset gives a glimpse into the future. The ZED Mini plus VR headset combination emulates the kind of immersive experience and functions (environment mapping, real-time tracking, and wide FOV) we expect from AR headsets in the future. | ||
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==Launch Date and Price== | ==Launch Date and Price== | ||
Stereolabs opened pre-orders for the ZED Mini Camera in mid-September. The package, that includes the ZED Mini camera, the USB 3.0 cable, and quick start guide, is priced at $ | Stereolabs opened pre-orders for the ZED Mini Camera in mid-September. The package, that includes the ZED Mini camera, the USB 3.0 cable, and quick start guide, is priced at $449. The company has announced that it’ll start shipping the product in November 2017. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||